More Than – Observer News Desk
More Than Trainees Complete
Fifty-eight young entrepreneurs from across Antigua and Barbuda have completed the 2026 Entrepreneurship Edge Programme, following six weeks of intensive training aimed at equipping participants with the skills needed to establish and sustain successful businesses.
The programme, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, was supported by an EC$38,000 investment from the Sandals Foundation, marking the second consecutive year of partnership between the two organisations. The funding supported the delivery of the six-week initiative, which recorded a significant increase in participation this year.
The programme culminated with an Entrepreneurship Expo held on International Youth Day, where participants showcased their businesses to the public, interacted with potential customers and put some of the skills acquired during the programme into practice.
The expo featured a range of products and services from local entrepreneurs and provided participants with practical experience in promoting their ventures, networking and presenting their businesses to prospective customers.
Training covered creativity and artificial intelligence, financial management, ethical leadership, project management, business accountability and sustainability, social entrepreneurship, funding opportunities, business plan fundamentals, and public speaking and pitching skills.
Participants represented a cross-section of emerging businesses, ranging from T-shirt enterprises and after-school tutoring to refrigeration services and other small ventures.
Director of Youth Affairs Dr Jrucilla Samuel said the growth of the programme demonstrated increasing interest in entrepreneurship among young people and their willingness to undertake rigorous preparation for the realities of running a business.
“We saw a tremendous uptick in participation, with all 58 participants successfully completing the programme,” Samuel said, noting that the variety of businesses represented showed that entrepreneurship was already taking place in many forms throughout Antigua and Barbuda.
Samuel also pointed to entrepreneurship as one avenue for addressing youth unemployment and reducing dependence on traditional employment.
“At a time when youth unemployment remains a concern, we must continue creating pathways for young people to become job creators and not only job seekers. Entrepreneurship is part of the solution,” she said.
She added that providing young people with practical business skills, mentorship and access to opportunities could help them establish sustainable livelihoods while easing some of the pressure on the public sector to absorb the country’s young workforce.
Sandals Grande Antigua General Manager David Latchimy said the Foundation’s continued investment in Entrepreneurship Edge reflected its belief that empowering young people was important to Antigua and Barbuda’s long-term development.
“Through our partnership with the Department of Youth Affairs, we are investing not only in businesses, but in people who have the potential to create opportunities for themselves and others,” Latchimy said.
He encouraged participants to apply and build on what they had learned, describing investment in young entrepreneurs as an investment in the country’s future.
Three participants, Phebe Salmon, Honora Thomas and Avanti Gardner, received special recognition for their performance during the programme. Each was awarded complimentary evening passes for two to Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa.
The passes were presented by Latchimy and Sandals Grande Antigua Public Relations Manager Leon Norville in recognition of the participants’ commitment and performance. Samuel was also presented with an evening pass for two in recognition of her leadership and coordination of the programme and its supporting activities.
The Sandals Foundation said its support for Entrepreneurship Edge forms part of its wider commitment to education, skills development, leadership training and economic empowerment across Caribbean communities.
The 58 participants leave the programme with new business knowledge, expanded networks and practical tools intended to help them develop their ideas and existing enterprises into sustainable ventures.
